Rotating pneumatic vibrator

ABSTRACT

A rotating pneumatic vibrator in which a cylindrical housing is provided with an axial shaft spaced inwardly from the walls of the housing to provide a circular space between the shaft and the housing. A cylindrical rotor having a diameter greater than the shaft and smaller than the housing is mounted on the shaft for movement thereabout. A longitudinally extending radially moveable vane is mounted in the shaft and is arranged to be pneumatically pressed against the rotor. Air forces the vane against the rotor and escapes into the chamber formed between the shaft and the rotor; the air forces the rotor to move about the shaft and then escapes to the atmosphere with the rotor and vane returned to their beginning point. The motion is continuous and produces vibrations due to the movement of the rotor on the shaft.

United States Patent Fontaine [151 3,638,914 Wadensten Feb. 1, 1972 [54] ROTATING PNEUMATIC VIBRATOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Theodore Wadensten, 26 Snyder Ave., 1,207,855 7/1961 France Ramsey, NJ. 07446 1,418,422 10/1965 France .1. ..259/D1G. 43 [22] Filed: June 1970 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel [2]] Appl. No.:- 42,791 Assistant Examiner-Alan l. Cantor AttorneyBerrnan, Davidson and Berman [52] U.S. Cl ..259/l R, 259/D1G. 43 57] S C [51] Int. Cl. ..B0lf 11/00 [58] Field 0 Search 259/1 R DIG 43 DIG 44 A rotating pneumatic vlbrator m WhlCh a cylmdrrcal housing 5 is provided with an axial shaft spaced inwardly from the walls of the housing to provide a circular space between the shafl and the housing. A cylindrical rotor having a diameter greater than the shaft and smaller than the housing is mounted on the [56] References Clted shaft for movement thereabout. A longitudinally extending UNITED STATES PATENTS radially moveable vane is mounted in the shaft and is arranged a to be pneumatically pressed against the rotor. Air forces the 3,112,098 11/1963 Anderson ....259/1 R vane against the rotor and escapes into the chamber formed 2,956,788 10/1960 Bondeson ....259/1 R between the shaft and the rotor; the air forces the rotor to 2,967,048 1/ 1961 Fontaine ....259/ 1 R move about the shaft and then escapes to the atmosphere with 2,763,472 9/1956 Fontaine ....259/1 R the rotor and vane returned to their beginning point. The mo- 3,l62,426 12/ 1964 ..259/1 R 7 tion is continuous and produces vibrations due to the movement of the rotor on the shaft.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 11972 3,638,914

' sum 2 or 2 ROTATING PNEUMATIC VIBRATOR i BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to rotary pneumatic vibrators of the type which are caused to vibrate by the rotation of an offcenter member within the vibrator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The vibrator includes a cylindrical housing having a central fixed shaft mounted therein and spaced inwardly from the housing to provide a circular space surrounding the shaft. The shaft has a longitudinally extending radially movable vane which is adapted to engage against the inner face of a circular rotor mounted between the shaft and the housing; The vane is pneumatically driven against the rotor and also serves as a valve to control the airflow into the space between the shaft and the rotor. As air pressure is applied to the vane and to the space between the shaft and rotor the rotor is caused to move about the shaft with the air escaping through ports on the far side of the shaft to permit the rotor to return to its starting position. The movement of the rotor creates a unbalanced condition and causes vibration in the device.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rotating pneumatic vibrator having a minimum of working parts to permit a long life without excessive wear.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the 7 following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an end elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the elements in a advanced position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 with the elements in a still further advanced position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shaft forming part of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a rotary pneumatic vibrator constructed in accordance with the inventron.

The vibrator l0 includes a cylindrical housing I1 having a cylindrical bore 12 formed therein. A circular end plate 13 is secured to one end of the housing 11 by a plurality of capscrews 14. The end plate 13 has an axial bore 15 extending therethrough.

A circular end plate 16 is secured to the opposite end of the housing 11 by a plurality of capscrews 17. An axial bore 18 is formed in the circular plate 16. The circular plates I3, 16 are identical in every respect.

; A shaft 19 is positioned in the housing 11 and has a reduced diameter axial extension 20 at one end and a reduced diameter axial extension 21 at the opposite end thereof. The extension 20 projects through the bore 15 of the end plate 13 and is locked thereto against rotation by a key 22 mounted in a keyway 23 in the extension 20 and a keyway 29 in the bore 15 ofthe end plate 13.

The extension 21 projects through the bore 18 of the end plate 16 and is locked against rotation to the end plate 16 by means of a key 25 seated in a keyway 26 in the extension 21 and a keyway 27 in the bore I8 ofthe circular plate l6.

The shaft 19 has a radially slot 28 formed therein and extending longitudinally from the extension 20 to the extension 21 as can be clearly seen in FIG. 7. The slot 28 is adapted to receive a generally rectangular vane 29 which extends from the end wall 13 to the end wall 16 and is adapted for radial reciprocation in the slot 28. A bore 30 threaded at its outer end extends through the extension 20 communicating with the slot 28 at its inner end. An air supply pipe 31 is adapted to be connected to the bore 30 by means of a fitting 32. A bore 33 extends through the shaft 19 and each of the extensions 20, 21 and has its opposite ends threaded to permit exhaust pipes 34 to be connected thereto by means of fittings 35.

A plurality of bores 36 extend angularly and outwardly from the slot 28 through the side of the shaft 19. The bores 36 terminate above the bottom of the slot 28 and are arranged so that with the vane 29 in its innermost position the inner ends of the bores 36 are obstructed to prevent the flow of air outwardly therethrough. The outer ends of the bores 36 are closely adjacent the slot 28 on one side thereof.

A plurality of exhaust bores 37 extend upwardly and angularly from the bore 33 through the side of the shaft I9 with their outer ends terminating closely adjacent the slot 28 on the side thereof opposite the bores 36.

A cylindrical rotor 38 having a length equal to the housing 11 is positioned between the shaft 19 and the housing II in engagement with the vane 29. The rotor 38 has an internal diameter substantially greater than the external diameter of the shaft 19 and has an external diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of the housing I I.

The vibrator described above includes six parts, namely, the cylindrical housing 11, end plates I3, 16, shaft 19, vane 29, and rotor 38. All parts of the vibrator 10 are stationary with the exception of the rotor 38 and the vane 29.

In the use and operation of the invention the cylindrical housing 11 is rigidly secured to any device to be vibrated and the pipe 31 is connected to a source of air under pressure. The pipes 34 are connected to any exhaust system for leading the exhaust air away from the vibrator 10.

In the use and operation of the invention compressed air enters through the bore 30 and enters the slot 28 raising the vane 29 into contact with the rotor 38 forcing the rotor 38 into contact with the shaft 19 immediately below the vane 29 assuming the position illustrated in FIG. 4. This creates an air chamber 39 between the vane 29, the rotor 38 and shaft 19, as also can be seen in FIG. 4. The bores 36 communicate with the chamber 39. The second chamber 40 is formed on the opposite side of the shaft 19 and the bores 37 communicate with the chamber 40. The chamber 39 is a high-pressure chamber and the chamber 40 is a low-pressure chamber.

Air flowing through the bores 36 from the slot 28 will increase the size of the chamber 39 forcing the rotor to the left and downwardly to the position as can be seen in FIG. 5. The chamber 40 is decreased in size with the air flowing therefrom outwardly through the bores 37 into the exhaust bore 33. As more air is supplied through the bores 36 the chamber 39 increases in size as can be seen in FIG. 6 and the chamber 40 disappears. As the rotor 38 comes to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 the chamber 39 communicates with the bores 37 and the vane 29 shuts off inner ends of the bores 36 so that no more air is supplied to the chamber 39 and the high-pressure air in the chamber 39 is permitted to begin to escape through the bores 37. As soon as the vane 29 closes the bores 36 highpressure air begins to build up behind the vane 29 and it is forced upwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 raising the rotor 38 and returning the rotor 38 to its beginning point as seen in FIG. 4. The motion of the rotor 38 is a combination of rotation and impacting as it strikes the shaft 19 due to the force applied by the vane 29. Vibration is thus created. With a steady supply of air under pressure several thousand impacts per minute are created in the vibrator 10. The opposite ends of the rotor 38 are in sliding and sealing contact with the end plates 13, 16. The vane 29 is also in sliding and sealing contact with the end plates I3, 16 as well as with the rotor 38.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A rotary pneumatic vibrator comprising a cylindrical housing, a pair of circular end plates detachably secured to opposite ends of said housing, a shaft mounted axially of said housing and extending through said end plates, means locking said .shaft to said end plates to prevent relative rotation therebetween, said shaft having a radial slot formed therein extending longitudinally from one of said end plates to the other of said end plates, said shaft having an air inlet bore extending through one end thereof and communicating with the slot in said shaft, said shaft having an exhaust bore formed therein, and extending through at least one end thereof, a plurality of inlet ports extending through said shaft from the inner end portion of said slot through the side of said shaft, a plurality of exhaust ports extending from said exhaust bore through the sidewall of said shaft, said inlet ports and said exhaust ports being positioned closely adjacent to and on opposite sides of said slot, a vane mounted in said slot for radial reciprocation therein and adapted when at its inner end to close said inlet ports, and a cylindrical rotor having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said shaft and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said housing loosely mounted about said shaft within said housing, whereby upon application of air under pressure to said inlet bore said vane is forced outwardly of said slot and said rotor is forced to move about said shaft in an unbalanced condition.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft includes axial extensions at opposite ends thereof projecting through said end plates.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exhaust bore extends completely through said shaft.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor slidably and sealingly engages the end plates at opposite ends thereof.

5. A device as claimed in claim I wherein said vanc slidably and sealingly engages said end plates at opposite ends thereof.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer portion of said vane slidably and sealingly engages the inner face of said rotor. 

1. A rotary pneumatic vibrator comprising a cylindrical housing, a pair of circular end plates detachably secured to opposite ends of said housing, a shaft mounted axially of said housing and extending through said end plates, means locking said shaft to said end plates to prevent relative rotation therebetween, said shaft having a radial slot formed therein extending longitudinally from one of said end plates to the other of said end plates, said shaft having an air inlet bore extending through one end thereof and communicating with the slot in said shaft, said shaft having an exhaust bore formed therein, and extending through at least one end thereof, a plurality of inlet ports extending through said shaft from the inner end portion of said slot through the side of said shaft, a plurality of exhaust ports extending from said exhaust bore through the sidewall of said shaft, said inlet ports and said exhaust ports being positioned closely adjacent to and on opposite sides of said slot, a vane mounted in said slot for radial reciprocation therein and adapted when at its inner end to close said inlet ports, and a cylindrical rotor having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said shaft and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said housing loosely mounted about said shaft within said housing, whereby upon application of air under pressure to said inlet bore said vane is forced outwardly of said slot and said rotor is forced to move about said shaft in an unbalanced condition.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft includes axial extensions at opposite ends thereof projecting through said end plates.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exhaust bore extends completely through said shaft.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor slidably and sealingly engages the end plates at opposite ends thereof.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vane slidably and sealingly engages said end plates at opposite ends thereof.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer portion of said vane slidably and sealingly engages the inner face of said rotor. 